BY ADAM SERRANO
The United States Under-20s advanced to the final of the Milk Cup on Wednesday with a 3-2 victory over Denmark.
A pair of goals by Santos Laguna product Adrian Rueglas and a goal by Toronto FC's Faud Ibrahim put the Americans through to the final in a match that the team needed a win to reach the Final. The win comes off of what was a sloppy match for the Americans who gifted Denmark two goals on a goalkeeping error and an own goal. The under-20s will face off against Northern Ireland in the finals of the Milk Cup on Friday. Northern Ireland earned their spot in the final with a 5-0 victory over China.
HUGHES TO COACH FULHAM
Former Manchester City head coach Mark Hughes reached an agreement on Wednesday night to become the head coach of Fulham according to the Guardian. The Welshman replaces Roy Hodgson who left to manage Liverpool and will take the position only a week after the club was unable to sign Ajax manager Martin Jol. Hughes was dismissed midway through the season at Manchester City, but will now be expected to enjoy the same success with Fulham that he had with Blackburn. The candidates for the position were believed to have included U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley.
Here is some more news to get you through your day:
CELTIC FALLS TO BRAGA IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The return to the Champions League did not go according to plan for Celtic on Wednesday after a 3-0 to Portuguese club Braga. Goals by Alan, Echiejjile and Matheus were the difference as the Scottish club was embarrassed in their opening Champions League Qualifying match. Celtic were anemic throughout the match, failing to register a single shot during their defeat. The match was the debut of Mexican international Efrain Juarez for Celtic.
RIBERY ADMITS RELATIONSHIP WITH UNDERAGE SEX WORKER
Months of speculation about the Franck Ribery prostitution scandal have ended with the Bayern Munich midfielder confessing to his actions with an underage prostitute to French newspaper Le Parisien. In his interview with the newspaper, Ribery detailed the actions of himself and Karim Benzema during Ribery's birthday party in Munich in 2009.
The midfielder was indicted along with Benzema earlier this month on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute. Although prostitution is legal in France, soliciting an underage woman could land Benzema and Ribery in jail for three years along with a 45,000 Euro fine.
REAL MADRID ANNOUNCES TRAVEL SQUAD FOR CALIFORNIA FRIENDLIES
Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid squad announced their travel roster for their tour of California which begins today with the club flying in to LAX. Los Blancos will take part in the annual Jose Mourinho tradition of training camp on the campus of UCLA. The roster boasts all of the club's major stars like Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and each of their Spanish World Cup players. Here is the roster:
GOALKEEPER (3) – Iker Casillas, Jerzy Dudek, Antonio Adán
DEFENDERS (8) – Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeola, Royston Ricky Drenthe, Ezequiel Garay, Pepe, Nacho Fernández, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo
MIDFIELDER (12) – Xabi Alonso, Sergio Canales, Lassana Diarra, Mahamadou Diarra, Ãngel Fabian Di María, Fernando Gago, Esteban Granero, Ãlex Fernández, Kaka, Pedro Leon, Marcos Tébar, Rafael van der Vaart
FORWARD (5) – Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Ãlvaro Morata, Juanfran Moreno, Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid will take on the Club America on August 4th at Candlestick Park in San Francisco and then the Los Angeles Galaxy just three days later at the Rose Bowl.
Zamora is a pretty good target forward. I think he can handle bring down balls if need be. Hangeland distributes pretty well out of the back. Hughes did well at Blackburn on a budget and was doing well for the overly ambitious Man City before they sacked him. I am not sure the style and organization will be as pleasing as Hodgson but he is not a bad manager.
It would have been nice if someone from the supporting staff like Lewington was allowed to take over and carry on with the style Hodgson implemented but I think Hughes will at the very least keep them a mid-table club.
yeah, he was supposed to but Madrid decided they wanted to hold onto him.
I believe Canales was supposed to go back to Santander on loan for the year wasn’t he? I’m guessing this will be a ‘tase of Real’ for him then back to get some games.
Hey, Los Angeles! Better lock up your trailer-park waitresses. Ronaldo’s in town.
I guess no need for Casillas to go back to Spain in the meantime. He’ll just meet up with the squad when they get to Cali since he is chillin with Sara C. in San Fran. San Iker doing what it do.
A repeat of the 2005 final. Chuck Deezey owned Northern Ireland, I expect another win this year.
yeah, looks like the window to manage in europe is closing for Senior. Too bad. Looks like we’re gonna have to wait for Kreis to have a go (who personally get’s my voice to coach the Yanks in another 8 years).
Totally agree with you wilyboy.
Ha, I know. His absence is strange because he is an institution in Madrid.
This has been long rumored. Ecuador has been in contact with him since Honduras failed to advance at the World Cup.
Fantastic choice, Fulham. Considering Sven was the leading option.
O Noes! I knew there was zero chance of robobob getting the Fulham gig, but was praying for it. Now it seems like the stars are aligning for 4 more years…
Hughes doesn’t thrill me either. But more than anything, I too and tired of the retreads.
Have some guts.
Did the Fulham bosses not read Soccernomics?
No he’s not….they were desperate because no one else who take the position and the owner didn’t have the guts in the end to hire someone like Bob Bradley so he brought in a retread who will send Fulham back to the bottom end of the table….
His long ball style will kill Fulham…he has no creative nature what-so-ever. Too bad….I hope Dempsey puts in a transfer request.
Raul just signed for Shalke.
Yep. I watched the whole second half up to the 70th minute when I had to leave. I miss 3 goals…
fyi- Rueda has quit as coach of Honduras.
Hughes plays quite a bit of longball. I don’t know if Fulham has the players that suit his style.
Strange not seeing Raul’s name on there.
Very excited to see what Canales can do. I hope he makes Kaka obsolete.
I think the Galaxy have clearly demonstrated they’re up for international competition with the likes of Real. Are any of those guys on the roster Puerto Rican? No?
Phew. Dodged a bullet there.
I like Hughes alot. Much better choice than Sven. Dempsey should do well with him.
Hughes is a good choice.
I wonder if Benzema is gonna defect to the USA to avoid those charges in France… YIKES.
wonder if ronaldo is gonna reunite with his baby momma or if he is gonna go for another tango in paris
they better use there top roster against LA and not waste it on Club America
Go U-20s! any video anywhere?
I am surprised Real Madrid is bringing over the big guns. I figured that they would want to keep resting them after the World Cup.
Royston Ricky Drenthe?